Alternative Usages
I can’t speak for everyone, but I imagine we’ve all used something other than how it was intended. The other day my wife came home and asked what I was working on with the ratchet in bathroom. Of course, it was her passive-aggressive way of reminding me I had left it out. I scratched my head; I couldn’t remember using a ratchet. And then it dawned on me. I didn’t use the ratchet for ratchet-stuff rather it was my make-do hammer in hanging the picture on the wall. Busted.
Busted for leaving tools out and not using a tool properly.
But in my defense, I wanted to get the picture finally hung up after it sat there for months, but I couldn’t find my hammer. (Yes, because I likely hadn’t put it up last time.)
It’s for people like me that products often come with that disclaimer: for best results use as directed. You’ve seen those right?
Well, I believe there is a “for best results use as directed” for the Christian life. There’s not just one label but many throughout Scripture.
Usage Debate
I’m not saying you are not using the Christian life as directed or that you are exposing your children to a Christian life not as directed, but the default expression of faith in America is not as directed.
What do I mean?
Well, the argument has been phrased several ways. Dietrich Bonhoeffer argued, “Costly discipleship over cheap grace.” John Macarthur wrote exhaustively, “Lordship salvation over easy believism.” More recently Kyle Idleman phrased it as, “Follower not a fan.”
James wrote,
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless. (James 2:14-20
James’ words make great Bible Study lessons and sermons. They seem to be some of the most practical words in Scripture, but in reality, they are some of the most theological. James is balancing soteriology. He’s connecting Jesus’ call to the disciples and the words spoken to Nicodemus.
Of course, anything Jesus would say would be right. He was right to say “believe and you will have eternal life,” but James makes clear that faith isn’t separated from the call to follow that Jesus gave the disciples.
Best Usage
Unfortunately, our use of Christianity in America is to believe and secure our eternal destination and then spectate to ease our conviction. But for Christianity to be used as directed we must follow Jesus.
But for Christianity to be used as directed we must follow Jesus. Share on XOur belief must cause us to follow, and that following further increase our belief. Our faith must have deeds and those deeds are the seeking and obeying of the Father. This is how Christianity is the be used as directed. That is how we experience the best results of our faith.
We must realize this. First, we must model it with our own lives and then let it be the only form of Christianity our children come to know in our homes. So, parents, remember it’s best to use as directed. Christianity is directed to follow Jesus and it is then that we find the best results.
Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.
